SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Mike Nolan's lineage on and off the field made him an ideal choice to rebuild the 49ers.
The Baltimore defensive coordinator accepted his first head-coaching job Monday and began to negotiate a contract to take over the team that had the NFL's worst record last season.
Nolan, a longtime coordinator for four teams, is the son of former 49ers coach Dick Nolan, who led the franchise to its first playoff victory during eight seasons in charge of a once-proud franchise that finished 2-14, tying the worst record in franchise history.
As his resume attests, Nolan, 45, has plenty of experience and plenty of patience, and he'll need both. He will replace Dennis Erickson, fired this month after going 9-23 in two seasons.
After wowing 49ers owner John York in an interview Thursday, Nolan flew to York's Ohio home Monday to work out a deal.
"(York) had a good, strong list of candidates, and they felt that Mike was the perfect candidate to lead us into the future," 49ers spokesman Kirk Reynolds said.
Nolan, who will be the 15th coach in 49ers history, didn't return a call to his cell phone. York also didn't return calls.
General manager Terry Donahue was fired with Erickson, and Nolan will have a hand in picking Donahue's successor. York has said he planned to hire a coach with broad personnel powers, supplemented by a general manager who concentrates on salary-cap issues.
Nolan is a protege of Dan Reeves, who hired the former Oregon safety for his first NFL job with the Broncos in 1987. Reeves then made Nolan one of the youngest coordinators in league history with the Giants in 1993.
"It's a good fit," said Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, who played his first four NFL seasons under Nolan and Reeves. "I loved him back then, and I love him still. I'm glad he's finally getting that opportunity. It's probably a little later than I thought."
Though Reeves cut him late in his only training camp as a player with Denver in 1981, Nolan has coached offense, defense and special teams during 19 seasons in the NFL. He has been a prime candidate for several head-coaching spots in recent years.
Nolan has been with the Ravens since 2001.
DB coach, Bucs talking
TAMPA - Bucs coaches return to work today to begin preparations for the Senior Bowl.
But defensive backs coach Mike Tomlin could be looking for a job when he travels to Mobile, Ala., Sunday for workouts at the college all-star gathering.
Tomlin's contract has expired, and he has been reluctant to sign a long-term extension because of the Bucs' practice of not granting their assistants permission to interview for coordinator positions.
Agent Brian Levy is continuing negotiations with the Bucs and says Tomlin would like to have a contract before the coaching staff departs for the Senior Bowl.
Meanwhile, speculation that the Bucs' Bill Muir might join Cowboys coach Bill Parcells in Dallas officially was put to rest when tight ends coach Tony Sparano was hired to replace George Warhop as the team's offensive line coach.
COWBOYS: Parcells began his offseason overhaul by firing two assistants, Warhop and kicking coach Steve Hoffman. Hoffman developed a reputation for discovering off-the-radar kickers, but Billy Cundiff let down Parcells too many times this season on kickoffs and field goals. Warhop's unit was among the team's biggest disappointments, and he said nearly two weeks ago that he'd been told he would be let go.
FALCONS: Starting cornerback Kevin Mathis was still wearing a walking cast after a high right ankle sprain. High sprains can take longer to heal because they involve more inflammation in the soft tissue above the joint. His status is unclear. Starting right tackle Todd Weiner (sprained left foot) was not wearing a walking cast, and receiver Brian Finneran (sprained right thumb/hand) said he'll be ready for Sunday's NFC title game against the Eagles.
JETS: Doug Brien, who missed two field-goal attempts late in the fourth quarter of Saturday's division playoff loss to the Steelers, said he hoped to return next season. "I just talked to Herm (Edwards, coach) and (general manager) Terry Bradway and had the impression they both wanted me back," he said.
RAVENS: Baltimore is expected to hire former Giants coach Jim Fassel as offensive coordinator and former University of Washington coach Rick Neuheisel as quarterbacks coach, the Baltimore Sun reported. Fassel was a senior consultant with the team this season, working primarily on the development of second-year quarterback Kyle Boller.
--Times staff writer Rick Stroud contributed to this report.
